Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Saint-Leu

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,294 a month against $1,502 in Saint-Leu, rent and utilities included – about $2,500 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Saint-Leu outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Phuket, Thailand
Saint-Leu, Reunion
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,294
/mo nomad
Saint-Leu
🇷🇪 Reunion
$1,502
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Saint-Leu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Saint-Leu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,294 in Phuket versus $1,502 in Saint-Leu.

  • Phuket $1,294
  • Saint-Leu $1,502

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,204 in Phuket versus $2,353 in Saint-Leu.

  • Phuket $2,204
  • Saint-Leu $2,353

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,115 in Phuket versus $3,204 in Saint-Leu.

  • Phuket $3,115
  • Saint-Leu $3,204

Living in Phuket costs roughly 14% less than in Saint-Leu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 4% below, Saint-Leu is 11% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Saint-Leu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.39 ฿147
$27.82 €24.76
-84.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.31 ฿1,085
$88.9 €79.1
-63.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.70 ฿292
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.5
$2.87 €2.55
-5.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 ฿31.25
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.78
$1.10 €0.98
-54.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿85.0
$7.60 €6.77
-66.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿122
$5.49 €4.89
-33.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Saint-Leu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.4
$1.15 €1.02
51.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ฿48.73
$1.24 €1.10
16.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$2.22 €1.98
-32.43%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿73.0
$4.44 €3.95
-51.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.09 ฿641
$22.35 €19.89
-14.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.40 ฿114
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿366
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.94 ฿98.8
$3.41 €3.04
-13.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.8
$1.66 €1.47
1.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿73.7
$2.18 €1.94
0.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 ฿71.4
$3.28 €2.92
-35.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.99
$2.28 €2.03
-35.96%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 ฿45.95
$2.29 €2.04
-40.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 ฿36.14
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.32
$0.82 €0.73
-32.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.43 ฿149
$14.58 €12.98
-69.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.25 ฿613
$5.60 €4.98
225.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿59.5
$1.67 €1.48
5.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ฿96.8
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Saint-Leu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.62
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.9 ฿1,844
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 ฿50.8
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ฿26.06
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.84 ฿129
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.96
$1.95 €1.74
-23.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K ฿902.9K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K ฿884.9K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Saint-Leu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.8 ฿3,285
$95.9 €85.4
1.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.29 ฿379
$10.02 €8.91
12.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.19 ฿577
$33.31 €29.64
-48.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Saint-Leu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.3 ฿2,295
$33.67 €29.96
102.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.92 ฿367
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.43 ฿250
$10.23 €9.10
-27.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Saint-Leu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$530 ฿17.8K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.8K ฿630.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Saint-Leu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.7 ฿2,072
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.25 ฿949
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 ฿3,225
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.8 ฿2,916
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Saint-Leu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$721 ฿24.2K
$1,115 €992
-35.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$509 ฿17.1K
$788 €701
-35.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,950 ฿65.5K
$2,049 €1,823
-4.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,397 ฿46.9K
$1,353 €1,204
3.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,192 ฿140.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,298 ฿110.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Saint-Leu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$492 ฿16.5K
$1,995 €1,775
-75.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4
39.25%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: November 2, 2026

Last update for Saint-Leu: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$509
Saint-Leu
–
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$267
Saint-Leu
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$126
Saint-Leu
–
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$123
Saint-Leu
–
Eating Out
Phuket
$120
Saint-Leu
–
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$83
Saint-Leu
–
Getting Around
Phuket
$66
Saint-Leu
–

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $721 in Phuket and $1,115 in Saint-Leu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint-Leu pays about 4.1 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $89 in Saint-Leu. Groceries flip the comparison at $267 vs $211, with Saint-Leu cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇷🇪 Saint-Leu
🕒 Local time
08:50 8:50 AM
05:50 5:50 AM
3 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
34,893
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 33.59 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.81 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 0.89 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Saint-Leu 5,710 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Saint-Leu

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Phuket vs Saint-Leu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Saint-Leu?
Phuket is about 14% cheaper overall, especially in eating out and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Saint-Leu?
On paper, salaries run 75% lower in Phuket. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Saint-Leu?
Rent for a central apartment: $721 in Phuket versus $1,115 in Saint-Leu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Saint-Leu?
Shoppers in Saint-Leu pay roughly 21% less for everyday groceries. It’s an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Saint-Leu?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $32 versus $89 in Saint-Leu. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Saint-Leu?
At $1,294 in Phuket versus $1,502 in Saint-Leu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Saint-Leu. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Phuket or in Saint-Leu?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Saint-Leu?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Saint-Leu are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Phuket wins on affordability, Saint-Leu on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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